Weatherby Vanguard Gen ll in 22-250

                                  Vanguard in 22-250

 Over 40 years ago Weatherby realized that there was a market for a lower price rifle then their famed Mark V series.  So the Vanguard was introduced in 1970. While the original Weatherby rifles were chambered for their cartridges, the Vanguard is available in standard chamberings from the 204 to the 338 Win mag. I have fired various Vanguards in 30-06 and 22-250 though I didn’t get much of a chance to work with the 22 caliber due to a fire. The Vanguard is also available in some Weatherby calibers such as the 257 , which I have also fired.  For more info of Weatherby products you can go to    http://www.weatherby.com/   The rifle I have is a Gen ll which has a couple of improvements over the first model. I had an older 22-250 which shot well but was too heavy and the trigger wasn’t as good as the newer model. A 30-06 I tested also was heavy though It did shoot quite well. Since the Vanguard is available in the 338 Win Mag , which would require some weight, all of their models and calibers reflected that. A lightweight gun is important to me, as my wheels are not what they used to be.  These are some loads that I have used in both Vanguards. Super is short for Hodgdon Superperformance powder which is one of the better powders for the 22-250.

View of weatherby 22-250 with Alpen Scope. A great combo

  

LOAD                      BULLET                         VELOCITY                COMMENT

5 X Red Dot          40 grain Speer                 1483                           lite load

10 X Unique        40 grain Speer                 2328                            nice load

12 X Unique        40 grain Speer                 2603                            Hornet Load

14 X Unique        40 grain Speer                 2858                            accurate

20 X Blue Dot      52 grain Sierra                 3132                           good load

39.3 X H 380       52 grain Sierra                3612                            ok

35 X IMR 4064    52 grain Sierra  BT          3646                            very accurate

20 X Blue Dot      50 grain Speer                 3164                            222 load

36 X IMR 4895        50 grain Speer                 3711                            good load

37 X IMR 4895          50 grain Speer                 3766                            favorite load

Remington                55 grain factory             3460                            high es

12 X Unique             55 grain Speer fmj          2261                            accurate

35 X WC 844           55 grain FMJ                    3546                          good load

44 X Super              55 grain milt                   3763                           consistent

44 X Super              55 grain Sierra HP BT    3933                           great load

44 X Super              55 grain Sierra SP BT     3813                           good load

35 X IMR 4895       55 grain Sierra                 3685                           accurate

41.5 X 760              55 grain Sierra                 3598                            accurate

41.5 X 760              55 grain Sierra                 3601                            mag primer

33 X RL#11               55 grain Sierra                 3555                            ok 

8 X 231                    58 grain cast                     1844                           accurate

7 X 231                   58 grain cast                     1629                           ok 

16 X Blue Dot        63 grain Sierra                  2530                           small game 

42.5 X Super        63 grain Sierra                   3777                           ok

 

 

Due to light recoil and good trigger a youngster has no problem shooting it

 

 At my request, Weatherby sent me a second  Vanguard in 22-250, which is my all-time favorite 22 caliber centerfire caliber. It was originally a wildcat for many years before Remington adopted it in 1965.   This caliber has everything going for it with no drawbacks. It has the accuracy and flexibility to meet any need that a 22 can fill. I have even loaded it down to 22 Hornet velocities with good results.  It may not win bench rest matches but ½” groups are very obtainable which makes it an excellent long range varmint caliber. Weatherby came out with their own 22 centerfire known as the 224 Weatherby. While a competent cartridge, it has a major drawback. The case is belted and not based on anything else so it is expensive and hard to get. If someone obtains a large amount of cases, it is reloadable which will mitigate the problem to an extent. In any event the 22-250 is a superior choice in every respect.  These are a few loads I used but each rifle will have its preferences so this is just a guideline.  These are some further loads that were used in the Gen ll rifle.  I do recommend this rifle as it performed well and the price is reasonable.

 

LOAD                         BULLET                            VELOCITY                  COMMENT

37 X H 4895             50 grain Rem                 3678                          high es

34.5 X WC 844         50 grain Rem                 3583                         slow

36 X H 4895             55 grain V Max               3694                          nice

36 X H 4895             55 grain FMJ                   3695                         consistent

39 X H 414               55 grain V max                3551                        ok

39 X h 414               55 grain FMJ                    3465                         slow

36 X 748                  55 grain FMJ                     3559                        fair

 

As usual Hornady bullets shot well

My sample has a two tone composite stock being gray and black. The 24” barrel is a matt blue. The bolt has two large locking lugs and a typical extractor and ejector. The extractor is a small claw type which the cases are ejected with a plunger type found on many rifles. I have shot quite a bit of ammo in various Vanguards and never had any problems with any of them. There are holes in the bolt body, which should deflect gas away from the shooters face in the unlikely event of a case rupture. You can feel safe shooting this firearm.    The trigger as it came from the factory is nice and light and breaks cleanly which is a major aid in accurate shooting. It is a two stage match type and can be adjusted down to 2 & ½ Lbs.  The magazine drops down with a button in the trigger guard and is easy to use. The three position safety also works well. Is my gun pretty? No, in fact it leans toward ugly but practical. If you get caught in the rain or snow no big deal with this model. I have examined Vanguards with wood stocks and nicely blued metal but they are more expensive and no more practical. There are many models and options to choose from so there is something for everyone.   The Vanguard series 2 has a MSRP starting at $599 and has an accuracy guarantee of 1” or less, using specified ammo. I have found on previous models that the guarantee was always met or exceeded. This specimen is capable of ½” groups with ammo that it likes. Weight is listed as 7 & ¼ Lbs., which seems lighter then the other 22-250 I had.  For me lightweight is important as my wheels are not that good any more.  Since the rifle has no sights I would like to see it with a scope base installed. A set of Weaver type bases would only add a couple of dollars to the cost and make it more convenient.  After all of this rifle  I would recommend the Vanguard for anyone looking for a good value.

 

Trigger from Vanguard

 

 I picked up my first 22-250 around 1970.  My uncle had it and I had a chance to take it out hunting groundhogs. It was love at first sight. When I saw how well it works on woodchucks I offered to buy and purchased his Remington 700 ADL.  I used it for some years for groundhog hunting. It was very accurate and any chuck that was unlucky to be in range was quickly dispatched. On a calm day any chuck that was within 300 yards was in serious jeopardy. Shots past 300 yards was also quite reasonable as long as I did my part.  The only weakness of a 22 at long range is the wind. Unlike drop wind isn’t as easy to figure out due to the variations.- While during this period I also used everything from a 22 Hornet to a 220 Swift my love affair with the 22-250 remained steadfast. While all of those 22 centerfires have a place I just thought that the 22-250 was the best all around 22 and I haven’t seen anything to change my mind.  Since I am a handloader adjusting it power from a 22 rimfire up to full power loads isn’t a major challenge. I have been told that the 223 is better because a 1 in 7” twist is readily available which puts it in the deer hunting category. While that would be true I am not a big fan of deer hunting with any 22 though I would acknowledge that with the proper bullet and shot placement it can be done. Also who is to say that a 1 in 7” twist can’t be ordered in a 22-250 or any other 22 centerfire for that matter. The 22-250 would have the ability to push a heavy bullet about 400 FPS faster then the smaller 223 which would make a big difference in down range performance.

 

 

Gen 1 shot well but was heavy

 

 While I tried a lot of different types of bullets my go to was a 50 grain Speer loaded to 37 to 3800 FPS. While not the most accurate bullet it was close and since I did a lot of hunting on flat ground ricochets were a consideration. This bullet simply came apart after hitting just about any object so there was virtually no chance of a ricochet.  In addition, it anchored the woodchucks very nicely. They are tough animals and if you don’t hit them right with a good explosive bullet they will get into their hole and be lost. Like any other animal hunted they deserve a quick and humane death.    

 

Bolt showing extractor and ejector. Strong system

 Alpen sent me a 3 X 9 X 40 scope mount on this rifle. As with previous experience with their products, this scope performed to perfection. Optics are crystal clear and this model is a great fit for the caliber. Clear optics will help get the accuracy potential out of a rifle. For my purposes a 9 X scope is plenty.  It’s not overly large so you can carry it if desired. I used another Alpen scope on a bear hunt last year and the light gathering properties were amazing.  If someone wants a great hunting scope on their rifle I would recommend you take a serious look at their products.   For more info you can go to http://www.alpenoptics.com/RifleScopes.html  as they also have binoculars and spotting scopes.

 

Burris Scopes

A good combo. A Burris  3 X 9 X 40 on a Ruger model 77 in 243

  

 

 

                                 Burris Scopes

  One of the well known scope makers Burris sent me a Fullfield E which is a 3 X 9 40 mm illuminated scope. This particular item is matte black, which I like. Shiny scopes have no place in the hunting field as the glare can warn off your potential trophy. It is relatively compact for its features making it handier. There is a ballistic Plex E 1 and a chart to help you set the scope for the optimum range you plan on shooting at. The chart can be helpful at extended ranges that may occur in some hunting situations.  The owner’s manual comes in several languages, is pretty detailed, and should answer most of the questions you may have. There is a warranty on their products just by filling out the card and mailing. Burris has quite a complete list of optical related products so a visit to their website would be advisable.  There are quite a few makers of fine scopes so for a company to stay in business they have to produce a quality product and back it up with good customer service. My experience with The Burris company indicates that they are serious about their product’s quality and customer service.

Due to good optics (Burris scope) and an accurate rifle good groups are the norm

 The model I received was mounted on a Ruger model 77 in 243. This particular rifle is known for its accuracy, which I wanted to be able to test the scope and not worry about accuracy problems.  I was interested in testing the scope not the gun. The gun looks rough as it were singed in a fire but was not harmed in any way. Our public range is a perfect place to test it as I can go out to 300 yards, which is about all the distance I intend to shoot. Another thing I wanted to do is test it with different lighting conditions and set at different powers. The optics performed well at all the tested ranges and lighting conditions, something I would expect from a quality scope. The clarity and resolution was excellent at different ranges and lighting conditions.  Of course, it can be adjusted for short to longer ranges as needed.  I have taken it out in the desert as I intend on some coyote hunting and I wanted to see how the Burris would pick up various things and help out with the terrain. With fast moving animals a good scope is vital to success. 

 The E1 Fullfield is a 3 X 9 X 40 and has a reticle that can be lit up in red. The brightness is adjustable and if you move it from poor light to a brighter spot, the red light goes out. That is a nice feature to save on the battery life. Also if you are hunting in varying conditions you don’t have to stop and adjust your lighting situation according to the light.     The crosshair is a fine + type with lines for varying distances. The fine crosshairs enable the shooter to hit small objects at long distance and the red lighting enables us to shoot in poor light. That is something that would be very difficult to do with a fine line crosshair without lighting. I have lost more than one fine crosshair in poor lighting conditions which a lit reticle will prevent.  Since the 243 is a good long range gun capable of hitting small targets this scope is a perfect match. With top loads the gun is capable of ½” groups at 100 yards and this Burris makes it easier to obtain these results.  The E1 series of scopes has various models options. They have a 6.5 X 20 X 50 for those who need the ultimate long distance optics. There is a verity of crosshairs for various tastes. One thing I like about the website is you can look at each style of crosshairs so you can make the best selection for you before you make your purchase. Selecting crosshairs and other features is a personal thing and if you can get a good look at the product that is a big plus.     For more info you can go to     http://www.burrisoptics.com/     

A close up of the Burris 3 X 9 on the 243

 

 The website is very informative and I would advise a buyer to look it over as they have other products such as rings, bases and spotting scopes. When you go to the site, you can click on various countries so if you live in Spain the info is in Spanish. Since this is an international company that is a good feature.   There are sights also not to mention handgun model scopes. There is a complete price list and while they are not the least expensive scopes on the market, the quality is there and they have a good warranty. I found the prices reasonable for what you get. If you are looking for some good optics, the Burris line deserves serious consideration. Most consumers don’t mind paying a little more if the product is a quality item backed up by the company. No worries with the Burris on that end. Would I trust my Burris on a hunting trip?  You bet!   

 

Burris used in this review